Jump Start # 1450

2 Corinthians 11:28 “Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.”

  Our verse today is found in a very unique section of 2 Corinthians. I expect the apostle had a hard time writing this. Criticisms about his worthiness and credibility compelled him to reveal some personal things about his life. Paul didn’t share much about his personal life. He wanted to talk about Christ. He was humble and the attacks upon his apostleship forced him to defend himself and to talk about himself.

In the context of our passage, Paul lists the struggles and difficulties he has endured as an apostle. It reads like a police report. It is amazing what that man went through. Most, if not all of us, myself very much included, would have stopped, thrown in the towel or been defeated by the constant attacks upon him. He lists such things as: being jailed; beaten so many times he couldn’t count; in danger of death often; scourged by the Jews on five different times; beaten with rods on three different occasions; stoned; shipwrecked; spent a night in the water; dangers from robbers, countrymen, false brethren, hungry, thirsty, sleepless nights and cold. The apostles were mistreated. They were hunted down. They did not have cities named after them. They were not given parades. He would say in other places that they were considered the “scum of the earth.”

But on top of all of those wearisome and hard things he endured, comes our verse. It deals with the insides. Sometimes the insides can be harder on a person than what is happening on the outsides. Paul states, “daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.” Concern. Pressure. Daily. Do you see those internal mental and emotional battles that Paul was facing?

Just consider a few things that we know.

• Corinth: division, abuse of the Lord’s Supper, lawsuits, false teaching
• Galatians: biting and devouring one another; wanting to go back to the old law
• Ephesus: coming trouble arising from the eldership, eventually lose their first love
• Colossae: would Philemon treat the returning slave as a Christian?
• Philippi: two sisters are identified as not getting along
• Thessalonica: some would not work

These are just the things that we know on the surface. Paul knew so much more. Daily pressure. Daily concern for the churches. Let’s talk about that.

First, there are some who are never concerned about their congregation. They don’t give it any thought whatsoever. They show up Sunday and just assume everything is just fine. No prayers for the leaders. No engagement on their part. Some are more concerned about their favorite sports team winning than what is going on down at the church house. Little thought is given to those who are struggling. Little thought is given to those who are discouraged. And those who have dropped out, they are simply forgotten. I’ve seen even among a few leaders of a congregation very little interest or concern about what is going on.

Second, we do not carry the responsibility nor the work that Paul did. We cannot be involved with all the congregations everywhere. That is not ours to be involved in. Our attention ought to be where we are. It seems some like to know what is going on everywhere, but it seems that they are nosey and that’s about it.

Third, there is a huge difference between being “Concerned” and worrying. Sometimes we use the word concern when we are actually worrying. We know Jesus tells us multiple times to not worry. Worry is a lack of faith. So, some disguise worry by simply saying that they are concerned. Worry tears us up on the inside. Worry doesn’t do anything positive. It steals our sleep, ruins our appetite, and nearly stops us. Worry is like starting your car, and while the car is in park, you push the accelerator. You burn a lot of energy, make a lot of noise, but you don’t go anywhere. That’s worry.

Concern does something. Concern gets involved. Concern looks for solutions. Concern is action. Paul was concerned about the welfare of those congregations. What did he do? He visited them. The taught them. He wrote letters to them. He prayed for them. Worry upsets us and doesn’t do anything. Concern gets us off the sidelines and into action.

Fourth, there is enough daily pressure and concern for the congregation each of us is a part of to keep us busy. Are we growing? Are folks connecting to the Lord? Are we getting stronger? Are we reaching others? Are we developing new leaders? Are we teaching what is most necessary? Are we giving God our very best? Some congregations right now are trying to decide whether to add on or build a new place. Some congregations right now are looking to appoint new elders. Some are looking for a new preacher. Some are facing the reality of whether it’s time to lock the doors and move in with another congregation. There is enough to keep all of us busy in our congregation. There are plenty of folks that need prayers. There’s many that need some air blown into their soul. That’s encouragement. There are those who need a helping hand. There are those who need to be mentored.

Parents will be concerned about their children. It’s not enough that they are well and growing. Once they start making friends, heading to school, driving, dating, going off to college, get married—my oh my, there is a lot there for parents. I’ve woken up many a night, thoughts about the kids racing through my mind and wondering if I was doing the right thing. I can’t tell you how many prayers I shot to up to Heaven as they were growing up. Each stage, each crisis, each situation brought new concerns, new pressures and more involvement and prayers. There was a daily concern. I wonder if that’s why most of us who are empty nesters now have grey hair.

It’s the same with the church. You just love those people. You want them to do so well. You lose sleep thinking about them. You want the best for them spiritually. You think. You pray. You do what you can. Just imagine what the place would be like if every member had that same love and concern for the congregation. Imagine the connections. Imagine the help. Imagine the strength. Concerned about one another.

Growing up I was a fan of Gilligan’s Island. Loved that silly show. I remember the big skipper on many episodes hugging the little Gilligan and saying, “I’m worried about my little buddy.” That’s the way our fellowship ought to be. The big guy looking out for the little guy. The old guy looking out for the young guy. There for each other. This all starts when we appreciate one another and have daily concern for each other.

Give some thought today to those in your congregation. Throw a prayer up to Heaven for someone you haven’t prayed for in a long time. You’ll be glad you did and it may be the very thing that opens a door for them. They may need Heaven’s help today and you may be the highway to get that going.

Daily concern for the church…what a great thought that is.

Roger